18
Section 4: Operation
Tilling Tips
&
Techniques
• If the previous procedures don’t clear
the debris, it may be necessary to
remove the debris by hand (a pocket
knife will help you to cut away the
material). Follow the “WARNING”
statement below before clearing the
tines by hand.
Tilling on slopes
If you must garden on a moderate
slope, please follow two very important
guidelines:
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never
on steep ground where footing is
difficult (review safety rules in the
“Safety” section of this manual).
2. We recommend tilling up and down
slopes rather than across slopes.
Tilling vertically on a slope allows
maximum planting area and also
leaves room for cultivating.
IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be
sure the correct oil level is maintained in
the engine (check every one-half hour of
operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant away from its
normal level and this can starve engine
parts of required lubrication. Keep the
engine oil level at the full point at all
times!
Tilling up and down slopes:
• To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be
sure to add enough organic matter to
the soil so that it has good moisture-
holding texture and try to avoid leaving
footprints or wheel marks.
• When tilling vertically, try to make the
first pass uphill as the tiller digs more
deeply going uphill than it does down-
hill. In soft soil or weeds, you may
have to lift handlebars slightly while
going uphill. When going downhill,
overlap the first pass by about one-half
the width of the tiller.
LOADING AND UNLOADING THE
TILLER
• Before loading or unloading, stop the
engine, wait for all parts to stop
moving, disconnect the spark plug
wire and let the engine and muffler
cool.
• The tiller is too heavy (over 175 lbs.,
depending on model) and bulky to lift
safely by one person. Two or more
people should share the load.
• Use sturdy ramps and manually
(engine shut off) roll the tiller into and
out of the vehicle. Two or more people
are needed to do this.
• Ramps must be strong enough to
support the combined weight of the
tiller and any handlers. The ramps
should provide good traction to
prevent slipping; they should have side
rails to guide the tiller along the
ramps; and they should have a locking
device to secure them to the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not operate the tiller on a
slope too steep for safe
operation. Till slowly and be
sure that you have good
footing.
Failure to follow this
warning could result in
personal injury.
WARNING
Loading and unloading the
tiller into a vehicle is
potentially hazardous and
we don’t recommend doing
so unless absolutely nec-
essary, as this could result
in personal injury or prop-
erty damage.
However, if you must load
or unload the tiller, follow
the guidelines given next.
• The handlers should wear sturdy
footwear that will help to prevent
slipping.
• Position the loading vehicle so that the
ramp angle is as flat as possible (the
less incline to the ramp, the better).
Turn the vehicle’s engine off and apply
its parking brake.
• When going up ramps, stand in the
normal operating position and push the
tiller ahead of you. Have a person at
each side to turn the wheels.
• When going down ramps, walk back-
ward with the tiller following you. Keep
alert for any obstacles behind you.
Position a person at each wheel to
control the speed of the tiller. Never go
down ramps tiller-first, as the tiller
could tip forward.
• Use wooden blocks to place on the
downhill side of the wheels if you need
to stop the tiller from rolling down the
ramp. Also, use the blocks to tem-
porarily keep the tiller in place on the
ramps (if necessary), and to chock the
wheels in place after the tiller is in the
vehicle.
• When the tiller is in the vehicle, prevent
it from rolling by engaging the wheels
in the wheel drive position (put Wheel
Gear Lever in ENGAGE). Chock the
wheels with blocks and securely tie the
tiller down.
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